HomeHome Comfort TipsAir Conditioning RepairsHow to Fix a Broken Thermostat – Thermostat Troubleshooting Posted in: Air Conditioning Repairs Many times, a malfunctioning or broken thermostat masquerades itself as a faulty furnace. Before assuming that you have an expensive HVAC problem to deal with, first take a look at your thermostat.In our last blog post, we talked about 5 Furnace Troubleshooting Tips that can help you solve some of the most common heating problems. On the list, we talked about having your thermostat cleaned, set to “heat,” and changing its batteries, but we didn’t go very much into detail. Sometimes, your thermostat needs a little more attention. What you think is a broken thermostat may just be a neglected one.But sometimes, you may just have to break down and buy a new thermostat because of aging, faulty wiring, an old transformer, or other issues. In this case, we highly recommend investing in and learning to use a programmable thermostat.You may also be interested in the new, high-tech “smart” thermostats, which claim to learn your habits and automatically adjust the temperature as needed.

If you do end up replacing your thermostat, do not throw your old, broken thermostat in the trash, especially if it has mercury in it. Find a way to properly dispose of it or give Cassel Home Comfort a call!Before you do anything, check to see if your HVAC system has power. You don’t want to be that guy. Go over to your breaker panel and make sure your HVAC system is getting power. The next step is checking to see if your thermostat has power:This is definitely the first thing you will want to check before moving on to the more complicated stuff. All thermostats are different, with some requiring battery changes and others not needing batteries at all. For wireless systems, use AA Lithium batteries instead of the weaker regular ones. Watch this video to figure out which kind of thermostat you have and how you can change its batteries:Another simple fix, usually for older electromechanical thermostats, is a simple dusting with a small paintbrush, or other soft brush. Now that you know how to open up your thermostat’s housing from the video above, you can now open it up for some light cleaning.

Dust and dirt are often the cause for inaccurate temperature readings and other problems. Lightly dust the inside of your thermostat, including the metal coils and contact plates. If you brush can’t fit in between the contact plates, try sliding a soft paper back and forth to clean them.This may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many homeowners overlook this problem: your thermostat needs to be away from heat sources and direct sunlight. If your thermostat is near a lamp, computer, or any other source of heat, the thermostat’s temperature reading will be off and will send the wrong commands to your furnace or air conditioner.Using a level device, make sure your thermostat is perfectly level. If your thermostat isn’t completely straight, then your mercury switch will not work properly/accurately.Well, not really, but it will be exciting to see if this fixes your problem. To adjust the anticipator, open up your thermostat’s housing and look for a small metal tab next to a scale from shorter to longer.

If your HVAC systems cycles on and off too frequently or not frequently enough, adjusting your anticipator will usually solve the problem.: There is one last thing you can try to get your heat and thermostat working again:Hopefully, this “reboot” was what you needed to get your heat back on. split system air conditioners installation costIn any case, it is highly recommended that you have annual HVAC inspections for your heating and air conditioning.ac unit for 1500 sq ft houseMost manufacturers warranties require them for warranty claims and they have been proven to save homeowners time, money, and energy in the long run.liquid nitrogen ac unitIf you are still confused about thermostats and how they work, let Mr. Wizard teach you:If these 5 Thermostat Troubleshooting Tips didn’t fix your broken thermostat and/or HVAC system, the professionals at Cassel Home Comfort will be glad to help.

We will also show you simple maintenance tasks that you can do yourself to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of your HVAC system and thermostat. For more information, see our Expert Tips & Tricks and FAQ page.Don’t live with a broken thermostat any longer; call Cassel Home Comfort! We’ll be more than happy to answer all of your questions – (217) 352-2800Remember to leave the more complicated tasks and anything dealing with wiring and electricity to the professionals. Messing around with complicated and dangerous equipment is not worth any potential benefits.Cassel Home Comfort is your go-to source for all of your Illinois heating and cooling needs, including zone-based heating & cooling and air filtration and purification.If you need help troubleshooting your thermostat or HVAC problems, call your home comfort experts at (217) 352-2800 for your free Whole Home Inspection and Analysis. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer any questions you may have.

We also offer an ongoing Home Maintenance Plan to help ensure your heating and cooling system is at its highest efficiency levels and lasts a long time.Cassel Home Comfort Heating & Cooling is committed to being your best HVAC contractor choice in Central Illinois in both Value and Customer Service!Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for more useful information and how-to’s! Will the Lyric thermostat work with my HVAC system? Does the Lyric work with multi-stage heating systems? Will Lyric let me control my fan independently? Can Lyric manage dehumidification in my home? Can I use my Lyric thermostat to control ventilation in my home? Can I control a zoning application with the Lyric thermostat? What is a dual fuel heating system? Will my Lyric work with my dual fuel heating system? Does the Lyric include compressor protection? Do I need to have Wi-Fi in my home to control humidity? Do I need to have Wi-Fi in my home to control ventilation?